A reporter at the\u00a0Australian Open\u00a0has been asking American tennis stars their thoughts on the country and what it\u2019s like to represent the Stars and Stripes.<\/p>\n
Ben Shelton\u00a0apparently gave his answer without even being asked.<\/p>\n
After a victory over Valentin Vacherot in the third round of the Australian Open early Saturday morning, Shelton took part in the tennis tradition of signing a camera but delivered a pointed message.<\/p>\n
\u201cUSA \u2018til it\u2019s backwards,\u201d Shelton signed. The phrase is a play on modern slang used to signal unwavering support or \u201cstanding on business\u201d for a cause.<\/p>\n
Taylor Fritz, Coco Gauff, Madison Keys, Amanda Anisimova and Naomi Osaka have all been asked similar questions by the same reporter at the Australian Open. <\/p>\n
Anisimova was specifically asked if she had any feelings playing for the country \u201cin the context of the\u00a0last year of everything\u00a0that\u2019s been happening in the US,\u201d and if it \u201ccomplicate[d]\u201d her thoughts.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think that\u2019s relevant,\u201d she fired back.<\/p>\n
American tennis star Ben Shelton signs a camera lens \u201cUSA till its backwards\u201d after a match at the Australian Open. X\/TheTennisLetter<\/p>\n
John Isner and Tennys Sandgren slammed the reporter on social media.<\/p>\n
\u201cPopular opinion: Let\u2019s ask tennis questions to the players at a tennis tournament. This is so lame,\u201d Isner wrote on X<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cBug reporter,\u201d Sandgren added. \u201cGo write for the Economist if you have the chops. If not ask her how her backhand felt and move on.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben Shelton celebrates his win over Monaco\u2019s Valentin Vacherot during day seven of the Australian Open in Melbourne on Jan. 24, 2026. AFP via Getty Images<\/p>\n After a victory over Valentin Vacherot in the third round of the Australian Open early Saturday morning, Shelton took part in the tennis tradition of signing a camera but delivered a pointed message. Getty Images<\/p>\n Gauff was asked about her thoughts on the \u201cstate of the US\u201d one year into President\u00a0Donald Trump\u2019s second term.<\/p>\n